The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-30

1
have great deal Of length with but very
little breadth. II would be difficult To elect
suitable commissioners for such road
district; and II town should lie intersect.
ed by several such roads, farmer would
hardly know TO which district his property
should be taxed. Farmers generally would
not submit 10 be taxed for making roads In
other towns and In other counties. Thew
are not at all anxious 10 step over the line
in paying taxes, though they might posi-.
bly, do 50 In other matters.
| And think that Mr.. evils will agree
with me that his scheme, thoagh founded
on different basis, will work admirably
with mine In completing the road that he|
had his eye upon when he wrote his excel
lent paper.
But II Is not my intention to criticise the
papers that were read before the Illinois,
State Highway Commissioners Associa-
ton, or TO anticipate those that will he readl
at Its next annual meeting, but simply 10;
question the authority of that Association
AS one Of the Institutions of the state. Ev-
cry board of commissioners of highways,
In the State has ght to send one of their
number as n delegate 10 that Association
and the cards of invitation state that there>
will be a reduction on car fare and tavernl
bills ~ those that attend. THIS Is all right
SO far as II goes Any set OF men have a
right to form themselves into an associaN
ton or convention. or by any other name
they may choose to be designated; rail
roads and hotels may reduce their fare III
they choose; but cannot see what right
delegates to such associations or conven
tons have in charging up the balance OIL
their travelling and other expenses to the
town OF district that they represent. Ia
such delegations are TO Re sent 10 Spring
field every year, II will prove in the end 4
heavy tax upon our road fund.
Ii commissioners of highways can hold
such associations, at the expense of thd
people, for the ostensible purpose of actin9
for the public good. why cannot any othe
set of public officers do the sameg Why
cannot the school directors of every dis
trict In the s ate, at the call Of the secrets
ry or the superintendent of public instruc
tion, form themselves into an association
and meet annually at the capital and read
papers and essays and discuss question
pertaining to their office? aud, canon
other things, endeavor to settle the poiD'
whether, in the rural districts, the school
master should be required TO make his ow
fires and do his own swee ping, or emplo
II jani'or for him or whether it would 81
better to employ man teacher or woma
teacher for the winter school? These wert
If not now, in the back districts, mootel
questions when followed the duties of
pedagogue, as much so as the tile drainag
and bridge questions of the present DAY
And now that | have become director,
would like to magnify my Office" and
could not do any better than by represen
ing my district in an association, an
C arging up expenses to the school fund
For the same reason all the coroners of tn
State might meet in convention to discus
the manipulation of public corpses; and
for instance, TO memorabilia the Legislature
to furnish each county with galvanic ba
terry, so that when "stiff" was found
some ditch, or hedge, or some other secrt
spot, with his throat cut from ear to ear, d
pistol ball through his head, he might d
made to tell by actions, if not by words
and factions speak louder than wOrds,"-
whether II was done per Sc or per ala an
thus enable them to render more INTEL
gible verdict than sometimes happens
such cases. So, also, might the sheriffs
the State hold a conclave at the capt.
once year, to fix their fees and perqui
| ties, and to discuss the various modes
eating. washing and ironing prisoners,
that they can be more comfortable In the
cells, and when they break Jail will not
| impeded In their lUcomotion Or, no
best to manage mt BIS when they come
disguise to take out criminal % har
him. These aud "other officers" mig
hold their annual meetings and charge
all expenses, including "wine and cigars
to their respective counties
1t might be WELL also, for the board
supervisors to appoint delegates from ea(
town to hold grand council at SpriDgde
at the same time with the legislature,
as to be a kind of coordinate branch
that august body. As the railroads and b
tells will offer reduced fare their mica
and per dim might be considerably Id
sened to the taxpayers at home. The
;counciis might lie productive of gre
deal of good to themselves, they mig
learn how to settle with county treasurer
clerks, sheriffs, and other of the cou
house ring" without calling in the ASST
anCe ,f experts and shadows" As TIL
is free country and an age in which q,
sorts and conditions of men" whether
or clerical have right TO organize theI
selves into convention, or synod, or cou
Gil, or association, or union, or institute,
club, or society, or any other name tn
may choose to call themselves, wheth
Nihilist, or Socialist, or Anarchist, or HI
ticulturist, or Woman Sutfragist; wheth
Hivites IIicksites or Jacobites; wheth
advocates of Mormonism or Atheism,
Heathenist; whether Free Masons, or On
Fellows, or knights of Labor all have
right to meet together for their own got
and to discuss public and private affairs,
open or in secret session. provided tn
commit no overt act of treason, or viols
none of the fundamental laws Of the lar
And it matters not how inflammation
their speeches may be, provided their ID
guage is within the bounds of comm
decency and of purity.
Commissioners of highways, school
rectors, as we'll as teachers, corJners, sh
ifs, and all religious and political bodi
have a right to hold their conventions,
sociations or cauCuses, unmolested by
mob and under the protection of the Law
Those who take no special interest
such gatherings and assemblages, and
payers, whose rights ought to be respect
will have no reason to complain, provid
they meet together at their own expense
at the expense of the parties that Sc
them.
ri thot oil tro1as obonl3